WEST COAST REGIMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11929, 24 October 1919, Page 5

WEST COAST REGIMENT.

(Acer in Arrais), At W'anganui last evening a regimental dinner was given by the 7th (Wellington-West Coast) Regiment to Lieut-Col., Hughes, who -is relinquishing command of the regiment, and to Brigadier-General Robert Young, C.B. O.M.G. D S, O. Croix de Guerre, There wag a big attendance, mostly officers who had seen service in the war. Lieut. Armstrong in proposing “the Regiment” thought that there never had been a gathering at which such an assemblage of the Empire’s veterans had been seen as that night, for one had only to look around the room to see officers who had fought among the sands of Egypt, on the hills of Gallipoli, and on the Helds of Franco and Flanders. These men belonged to the 7th (Wellington-West Coast) Regiment, and the founders who adopted the motto, ‘ ‘Acer in Armis, ” little thought that history would so soon prove the appropriate - ness of the motto.

Lieut-Col., Hughes in acknowledging the toast said that to command such a regiment was the greates honour that could be conferred on any man. Twenty-six officers of the regiment went to the war, one being a major, three captains and the remainder lieutenants. During the war one became a BrigadierGeneral (their honoured guest 'of the evening), three were made lieutenant-colonels, four became majors and the remainder captains. That was a record second to none in the Dominion.

“Oar Gaest’’ was proposed by the Mayor, who said that BrigadierGeneral Young was one of the men who, during the past five years, had made the name of New Zealand troops revered and feared throughout the worl.d His record on Gallipoli and in France spoke for itself. He had come back with the right to wear on his breast practically all the honours that could be borne by a soldier. He had had a right to a more illustrious “honour still, viz., the proud consciousness of having done a noble duty and done it nobly. The toast of “Gefioral Bobbie Young” was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm.

General Young made a happy but modest reply. They were all proud, he said, to be able to bring to their old regiment any little honours that might have been conferred on fcnom. He paid a tribute to the work done ky the WellingtonWest Coast company in the Great War, and said no company had had better officer's than Colonels Cunningham and Turnbull, He thanked Lieutenant-Colonel John P. Watt for the military grinding he had given him in the old Wanganui Rifles, which had stood him in good stead :iu Egypt and Europe. The General made a strong appeal to the public to back np the officers in the Territorials and not on any account to sink into indifference re • gardiug military training of the youth of the country.